"The Cry of Fallen Birds" is a genuinely illogical and bad episode of "12 O'Clock High". As my wife and I watched, we found ourselves yelling at the TV...a clear sign we are insane (possibly) but definitely one that says the writing was very poor.
When the episode begins, General Savage's plane nearly smashed into a home near the runway. Apparently, this has happened before and the home simply is in the flightpath of the incoming and often stricken planes. If something isn't done about this home, someone...very possibly the folks inside...will die.
This all makes sense. But what is confusing is the reaction of the haughty lady who lives there. She seems to think that perhaps the runway should be relocated or, perhaps, the Axis and Allies should just call off the war to spare her the inconvenience Now the Air Corps is offering to buy the home to pay her for her loss but this weird woman, Lady Catherine (Dana Wynter) is just unreasonable and illogical.
Now if this isn't bad enough...it gets worse. Soon Savages plane actually crashes next to the cottage....narrowly missing it. He apparently is hurt so badly the doctor wants Savage to remain there to be taken care of by Catherine. And, soon, these foes fall in love (gag,...gasp,...yecch!!)! The bottom line is this IS set during WWII for everyone but this lady...and the whole dynamic just makes no sense....a clear case of bad writing.
By the way, Dana Wynter is apparently a zombie. Earlier in this same season ("Interlude") she also played a woman who hated Savage and then fell for his rugged manliness....and then she died!! Isn't it odd and confusing that only a few episodes later that they'd use the same actress to play BOTH roles??
